Scan barcode
alrautio's review against another edition
4.0
A lot of the poor reviews were a result of failed expectations, people picking it up because “Lee Child” and not because of content. I had no such disillusions. I quite enjoyed the way the book was laid out by estimated “matrilineal generation”.
What is a hero?
A sandwich?
A war lord?
A donator?
Someone who helps more than harms?
A buzzword to be avoided because it’s tossed around liberally to the extent that all semblances of original meaning has been lost?
The jury is out. Some food for thought.
What is a hero?
A sandwich?
A war lord?
A donator?
Someone who helps more than harms?
A buzzword to be avoided because it’s tossed around liberally to the extent that all semblances of original meaning has been lost?
The jury is out. Some food for thought.
jimmyhawkins's review
informative
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
Story-telling is a crucial part of what makes us human, if you didn‘t think so before reading „The Hero“, you will definitely do so after.
dmturner's review
5.0
A delightful long essay
Between the author’s cheerful, clear prose and the delightful and deliberate assumption of matrilineal descent in the human race, this long essay about the origins and functions of fiction and the concept of the hero is a pleasant short read. The author of the Jack Reacher books, Lee Child must have decided he had something he wanted to say about those things (and something to say in passing about linguistics) and he said it. I enjoyed reading it.
Between the author’s cheerful, clear prose and the delightful and deliberate assumption of matrilineal descent in the human race, this long essay about the origins and functions of fiction and the concept of the hero is a pleasant short read. The author of the Jack Reacher books, Lee Child must have decided he had something he wanted to say about those things (and something to say in passing about linguistics) and he said it. I enjoyed reading it.
scipio_africanus's review
3.0
Lee Child is no doubt a sharp guy, but this came across as pseudo intellectual bullshit. A bunch of musings on evolutionary theory and the practically fictional grand narrative that evolutionary theory entails with very little exposition on the topic at hand.
olivialucy's review
4.0
This was not at all what I was expecting but I very much enjoyed it.
It was only an hour long as an audiobook, so a very quick read. It was full of cool little bits of information about word etymology and anthropological discoveries that I found fascinating.
4*
It was only an hour long as an audiobook, so a very quick read. It was full of cool little bits of information about word etymology and anthropological discoveries that I found fascinating.
4*
rosekk's review
5.0
This essay offered a load of angles for looking at stories, human development, and behaviour which I'd either never considered, or hadn't thought enough about.
The writing was engaging with a humorous edge, and acknowledged the boundaries of certainty without being afraid to push a bit further and speculate.
I've never read one of Lee Child's novels, but if they're as good as this essay I'm missing out.
The writing was engaging with a humorous edge, and acknowledged the boundaries of certainty without being afraid to push a bit further and speculate.
I've never read one of Lee Child's novels, but if they're as good as this essay I'm missing out.
susieq17's review
5.0
Outstanding. I hadn’t read it, even though I love the author, because the title and synopsis led me to think it was going to be about macho men.
Not at all! He writes the whole thing in terms of his female ancestors. He explains the evolution of society, and storytelling. Just wonderful.
Not at all! He writes the whole thing in terms of his female ancestors. He explains the evolution of society, and storytelling. Just wonderful.
loouvski's review against another edition
3.0
Jag gillade verkligen denna! Sedan att den inte hade mer än en liten bakom liggande dumma av hjältetemat är en annan sak